CHOICES MADE

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

This chapter has been beta'd by dowlingnana who had taken on the task of correcting my errors and to bring all prior completed and other chapters into order for everyone. Her assistants is very much appreciated

"Well, Mrs. Cullen, it is indeed a delight to see you again. Although, the last time we met was only a brief encounter and under dire circumstances. It seems that we are destined to constantly meet under such conditions." He concluded with a chuckled.

"I think I have to agree with you. But, Ria had more interchange with you than I did. I mean since you wanted to kill her husband." Bella remarked back with a smile.

"I agree. And, if you will, allow me to congratulate you and your husband upon the birth of your children. Also, to you, Lee, and your lovely wife for the birth of your second child. I hope that you will have many enjoyable years with them." both men thanked him for the acknowledgment and during the conversation turning to other topics Bella rose, left her bowl in the sink then excused herself to go rest for a bit. But, upon her exit she commented, "When Ankarra arrives then it will be time to tell all of you what is about to transpire and how it is going to be counteracted. I will at that time tell you what positions you will need to assume and what acts you can or can't do. Otherwise, you will risk causing great harm and damage if you act in a manner other than what is explained. If you have any doubts about our methods I would suggest you consider talking with our family, Marcus and Ankarra, upon her arrival, to get the reassurance you might feel that you'll need." And with that Bella left to go get some rest.

Unbeknownst to anyone Ankarra wasn't that far away and would be arriving within the hour after traveling for near fifteen hours.

CHAPTER 37: PLANS TOLD AND SET

"Well, do we need to explain anything about the plans they come up with, or, did you experience it enough when we had first met?" asked Lee with a chuckle at the surprised look on Talon's face.

"On the island? They did the planning that brought about Aro's and Caius's demise?" he questioned with a slightly stunned look showing.

"Be more forthcoming, cousin in law." Edward teased Lee while giving him a knowing wink and continuing to explain to Talon. "In actual fact, it is Ria that does the planning while it is Bella that does the seeing. My Bella has dream prophecy and with twin connection skills, Ria sees and catches the finer points to begin to develop a workable plan."

"And, it works every time?" Talon questioned with awe sound in his voice along with hesitation suggesting that such is hard to believe.

"I have seen it work on three separate occasions for myself. And, each time I have been involved in the outcome. No, come to think about it, it has been more than three. Those two are able to see things and set things in place to be able to bring about what the final event will need to end and further happenings resulting from the happening.

"The plan along each stage that is presented and work with what needs to be while at the same time seeing where it is leading them. It is amazing to be honest with you. I'm in awe of my wife and Ria. They are very unique." Edward finishes his explanation.

"That they are, young Edward." Said a feminine voice coming from the door behind him. No one had heard her enter or picked up on her scent. They needed to be more alert than that.

As the voice was heard by the other vampires in resident they all quickly gathered in the kitchen to welcome the newcomer. It don't take long for all of the pleasantries to be gotten out of the way before everyone was ready to get down to business, however, as Edward was getting ready to go get Bella, Carlisle halted him in midstride. "Edward, allow Bella to rest a bit more. She has only been down for about forty five minutes and with still gaining her strength back for delivering the twins she needs all of the rest she can get right now. From what I heard earlier she and Ria had been at it all night."

"Yes, but, she did want to get everything covered as soon as Ankarra had gotten here."

"Isabella will be just fine with a little bit more time sleeping. Don't fret so much, Edward, she can't stay mad at you for long the same as it is with Ria at me." Lee tried to reassure him with a small chuckle with everyone else following suite. It didn't really take much convincing before Edward listened and resumed his seat in the chair he had just vacated, but, as it was realized that the kitchen wasn't quite the place of comfort for all that were gathered they all moved out onto the patio. As they all got comfortable, even though, vampires could be comfortable in any position they all had gotten to used to human ways over the years to not continue using human mannerisms.

Time passed without anyone saying a word about waiting for Bella. It was late afternoon before she made an appearance after realizing how late it was before she got up in a hurry. Only the bump the was heard by the vampires alerted them to some stirring in another part of the villa. Edward shook his head as Lee chuckled under his breath. But, leave it to Emmett to comment, "Sounds like little sister has decided to kiss the floor again." Rosalie reached over to pop him in the back of his head following in quick session by Alice and Esme.

"What did I do?" he asks with being attacked by the females of the family.

"You were acting like the ass that you can be upon occasion." Rose informed him. It didn't take long after that that Bella made an appearance and then started towards the kitchen to have a bit before getting down to business.

"Let me grab a bit or two and then we can get down to business and I'll lay everything out to all of you. At which point you each can offer your opinions for us to make any adjustments that might be required." Bella told them in passing. But it didn't take long for her to return and take a seat next to Edward. She cleared her voice which seemed as if it was a delaying tactic, but, didn't immediate begin to speak afterwards.

"I know each of you expect some spectacular from Ria and me, but, I don't think any of you are going to be happy with what we have planned or want to accomplish." She finally started speaking while not looking at anyone in particular except to glance at each for a brief moment once going around the room. "Each of you wants a finale to Jane and Alec and that isn't what Ria, I or our families are about. We have certain obligations or laws that must be abided by, so, our plans must always fall within the realm of what we are permitted to do or not do. Now, that being said I am going to tell you what we know and how we plan to provide a disaster.

"Firstly, Jane and Alec want to have the battle moved away from the major populated areas to a more remote one. One that will give them an easy access to being able to get rid of the bodies without leaving any sort of trace like a bonfire will. So, they have chosen the area at Mt. Kilimanjaro. They plan to have a force there as if that is where the battle will take place. This is a false location. The main force will be at Mount Meru which lies forty five miles west and is an active volcano that is in the Arusha National Park. Once the two forces meet and engage there, their main force will come from behind to force a movement towards Mount Meru with them being the driving force and Volturi being the retreating force and force completely over the rim into the volcano itself." At this point Bella pauses for moment or so to allow them to absorb all that she has said thus far.

"And, we know this information how?" Talon asks in amazement. "How can you be sure that the information is real and not just false information being passed to throw everyone off?"

"Do you remember what we explained about the gifts of the two women?" Lee asks.

"Yes."

"Well, you are seeing how it works. My wife, Ria, and my son, Jason, allowed themselves to be taken a few weeks ago shortly after Ariabella was born. We were all getting ready to leave to head home to California. Bella knew about a force coming for them, so, she and Ria worked out the plan that it would be better for someone to be in their camp to gain information as to their plans. My son, Jason, is able to hear and feel all living creatures of any species. He is also gifted in other ways, but, this talent would garner the information needed for Ria to communicate back to Isabella and with her dream prophecy they would be able to formulate a plan to counteract anything coming from Jane, Alec and their group." Lee explained somewhat impatiently.

"Bella, I need to ask are these firmly fixed plans that Jane and Alec had devised. Are you and Ria positive that what has been heard the truth of the situation? Please, understand that I'm not questioning either of your abilities, but, could this be something they have done to throw you off the true plans since they have some working knowledge of what talents you both do have?" Marcus quietly asks as the room becomes silent while awaiting the answers to his questions.

"All of the events do coincide with the dream I have seen. So, I would have to answer that yes we are confident that the plans, as we know them, are factual. And, yes, they do have some idea of the gifts were have been blessed with, but, not all. Most everyone has learnt about our ability to communicate, but, none of them have spoken of their plans in front of or around, Ria, so there is no way she could herself know what their plans might be. This verifies that the plans are accurate.

"And, lastly, no one has knowledge of the exact gifts that Jason has. They don't know of his gift to hear words spoken, or, feel emotions with no limitations as to the distance. The only true ability they know of is his ability to null the use of their talents in regards to their gifts. So, again with Jason being there to and tell Ria so she can tell me, verifies the truth of the plans once again."

"Very well. That does answer my questions, but, you say this male child of the Marquis du Toulouse is able to hear and feel the emotions of others with no limitations whatsoever?"

"That and others that he has been working to master." Bella states.

"Would you care to enlarge upon that last statement?" Ankarra asks with pride in her voice.

"Not at the moment. Knowledge of all of our abilities is best kept quiet to ensure our safety both now and in the future." Bella answers.

"Ankarra, I agree with Isabella. Both hers and Ria's gifts have been a carefully guarded secret for years and it is better left that way. What is known now by all of you is simple because reason has arisen for their use. Anything else isn't for you to know. And, quite honestly, their gifts and talents we have tried to keep within a close knit group of trusted individuals that are mainly family." Lee remarks to all being very adamant about what he was saying.

"Okay. I'll accept that rebuke as I believe you to have the safety of your love ones at heart. So, with that said, let's move on to the business at hand." Ankarra replies before pausing and then turning to Bella once again to ask, "Has what you have seen in dream coincide with what young Alice has seen in her visions?"

"Yes, but, to greater detail. That is how we have been able to be sure that what information we are getting is true so we can plan accordingly. Alice and I along with the family have discussed her visions and my dreams in great detail to make sure of this." Bella says to reassure everyone present.

"I'm sure, as is Ria, that they have no idea that we are aware of their plans, but, they are aware of the twin connection between us and allow that to continue. We both feel the reason for this is that Jane and Alec thinks that with Ria communicating through me keeps the family satisfied as to their wellbeing at the moment, but, alerted that it wouldn't take much of a threat to kill them, if need be."

"That makes sense and does show some thoughtful planning into each step of action they have taken so far."

"So, if no one has any further questions at this point as the how accurate their plans are and how we were able to obtain them, I'll continue to lay out the plans we have made. These plans are absolute and must, I repeat MUST, be followed to the letter with NO changes. Any changes will cost lives; lives that shouldn't have been at risk if instructions are followed. Any tweaking will be done by Ria and me once we are there to see personally the surrounding area that we all will be in." Bella tells all of them in a firm, no nonsense sounding voice while waiting to see if anyone had any further questions are comments they would ask or offer.

No one spoke up, but, waited for her to continue. And after the waiting silence started to become tense in the room, Bella began, "I have told you of how they plan to fake the location of the exact battleground and how they will have the main force in reserve at Mount Meru waiting to come up behind us as we begin fighting at Mt. Kilimanjaro. So, you will need to decide if you want to send a small force against that position or just head start to where the main force will be waiting. But, whatever your decision you will need to know that none of us, the Cullen or du Toulouse family, will make a move or get into position until we are at the main front.

"Our positions will be on the sidelines in the middle. As each force faces off, Ria and Jason will be across from our position facing us and we will be doing the same of facing them from our vantage point. We will be using our shields to allow time for you to offer them a chance for them to surrender peacefully. However, none of us are going to be foolish enough to expect them to accept that.

"That being the case, with holding the shields in position for everyone's protection at the time, Ria and Jason will move into a more accessible location to be ready to use certain gifts to continue to try to being about a nonviolent resolution to this. During that time, Lee and I will be moving into place directly across from Ria and Jason to be able to assist with the gifts we will need to use to assist while the rest of the family will retire to a great distance from us, but, are to be ready to grab and run if the action becomes necessary.

"What I mean by this is that some of the family will move around to stand behind Ria and Jason while others are behind Lee and me. If we need to be pulled back fast for our safety then the family will be in position to do so without hesitation while we are still trying to maintain some order. To be able to bring the shifting of positions about Ria will be using her ability of concealment to help cover our relocating.

"Once we are repositioned Jason will use one of his new gifts to be able to allow the offer of surrender to be made one more time. And if the offer is refused once again then certain gifts that all four of us possess will be used as a means of trying to persuade members of their force to accept and leave.

"The gifts of the elements and fire will be used to display what forces they could be facing if their current course of action isn't stopped. This action will hold both sides stationary while your reserve force will have a chance to come up from behind to close them in. You will catch them by surprise and therefore the battle will be over with no lives lost and Ankarra can meter out justice to the ones that are to be tried. But, understand that none of us or our family will remain to be involved in that side of things. We will retire from the scene altogether." And with that said Bella leans back into Edward's arm as he pulls her tightly to his side while she waits for anyone to make a comment.

No one said a thing and after a period of time Bella rises to go to the kitchen to fix herself some dinner. The time at the villa is short and everyone will be leaving in a matter of hours to head to their next stage of the journey: Africa.

A/N: Well, Talon has returned to help with the current situation and Bella has laid out the plans. Will anyone contest them?

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